Is losing weight inseparable from “removing dampness”?

Recently, an article about a successful weight loss after "removing dampness" attracted attention. So, does "heavy moisture" lead to obesity? Can "removing dampness" help lose weight? In this issue of "1-Minute Health Lesson", Fang Zhihui, deputy chief physician of the Endocrinology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, explains to netizens.

Fang Zhihui said that "heavy moisture" is a concept of traditional Chinese medicine. If the moisture is too heavy, it will become "dampness evil", which is the "evil of phlegm, dampness and water drinking".

"Traditional Chinese medicine believes that obesity is related to congenital genes and acquired uncontrolled diet." Fang Zhihui explained that uncontrolled diet can lead to dysfunction of the spleen, stomach, liver, gallbladder, kidney and other internal organs, and the core pathological product is "dampness". Therefore, there is a saying that "fat people have more phlegm and dampness". Therefore, "removing dampness" is a very important method in the treatment of obesity.

So, what does "heavy moisture" mean? Fang Zhihui gave an example. People with "heavy moisture" generally present with heavy limbs, such as physical weakness, dizziness, and heavy head. They are also accompanied by stomach discomfort, chest tightness, loss of appetite, etc., and their stools are looser and sticky, and their urine is heavier. frequently.

According to Fang Zhihui’s suggestion, you should pay attention to the following points when “removing dampness” to lose weight:

One is to reduce the intake of fatty, sweet, heavy, oily and salty foods.

The second is to persist in exercising, through moderate to high-intensity aerobic exercise, to improve metabolism, strengthen the excretion of "phlegm and dampness evil", and at the same time properly replenish water.

The third is to recommend traditional Chinese medicine therapies, such as acupoint application, fumigation and oral administration of Chinese medicine, and the use of both medicine and food. Among them, the medicinal diet can choose ingredients such as barley, winter melon, and lentils, as well as moisturizing medicines such as Adenophora adenophora and Polygonatum odorifera to combine removing dampness and moistening dryness.

Finally, Fang Zhihui reminded that "removing dampness" should be carried out according to the individual's constitution, such as strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, clearing away dampness and heat, soothing the liver, promoting qi and removing dampness, or warming the kidneys, diluting water and removing dampness, etc. On the basis of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment, combined with diet control and regular exercise, weight loss results will be achieved with twice the result with half the effort.